Meltdown

August 17-30

Southbank’s ever-brilliant Meltdown Festival looks to be wonderfully eclectic this year – and you’d expect nothing less, seeing as it is being curated by Talking Heads co-founder David Byrne. On one day there’s drone metal, the next there’s electronica, which pretty much sums things up.

South West Four

August 29-30

An absolute belter down on Clapham Common. Legends of dance music Faithless (marking their 20th anniversary) and Eric Prydz headline the outdoor main stage on Saturday, while on Sunday, it’s Skrillex who brings his spikey dubstep.

Classical Season Southbank

September 8-December 14

If the Proms is putting you in the mood for some more classical music, then head down to the Southbank for its Classical Season. Intent on challenging some commonly held perceptions about classical music, the Centre will put on around 190 performances across three months.

On Blackheath

September 12-13

There’s a top line-up at this relatively new festival – Elbow, Manic Street Preachers, Madness and Anna Calvi among the best of them – but there’s much to it than just music: a food village, kids playground and the so-called ‘House of Mystery’, fronted by magician extraordinaire Dynamo.

London Folk Festival

September 12

It’ll be folk, folk and just a bit more folk at this Camden festival. It comes after the success of the London Folk Fayre last October. Expect to find heaps of local talent, as well the best of the rest from around the UK.

Things to do in London this summer

Things to do in London this summer

1/10
Go for a picnic

London’s numerous parks are great for many things, not least for picnicking. Whether you’re stuck in central and looking for a secluded spot, or further afield, there is no shortage of parks within city limits where you can kick back and relax for a spot of lunch.

2/10
Visit an urban beach

Why travel miles and miles outside of London to go to the beach when there might be one right on your front doorstep? There are urban beaches springing up all over London this summer, from palm trees and paddling by the North Circular to around 1000 tonnes of sand shipped onto the Olympic Park in Stratford.

3/10
Go for a swim outdoors

If you can brave the initial shock of diving into an outdoor, unheated pool then there are plenty of opportunities to do so in the lidos of London. Most of them have more than just a pool, too – cafes, sun beds and even cinema screenings come as part of the package.

4/10
Experience some live music

There’s always a lot going on musically in London, but August is an especially good month. There’s a funk legend coming to town, along with a few cult favourites, rising stars and even a few artists who have been handpicked to perform by David Byrne of Talking Heads. More musical talent than you could shake a rhythm stick at.

5/10
Head up to a rooftop bar

Look up: there’s quite a lot going on across the London skyline. Bars on top of buildings are the big favourites this summer, allowing drinkers to escape the hectic streets and soak in some city views. Many of the bars double up as restaurants and are open from lunch, so you can spend most of a long summer day up there.

6/10
Watch a film outside

Who wants to be cooped up indoors watching a film when you could be outside doing the same thing, but enjoying the fine weather as well? Pretty much all of the outdoor screens provide comfy seating – one even provides hot tubs – and their film selection ranges from old favourites to recent blockbusters.

7/10
Eat and drink alongside a canal

Slow things down a bit and relax beside one of London’s canals. Watch the boats float by as you either enjoy the unpretentious pint or opt for something a little bit more sophisticated – there is enough variety when it comes to canal-side bars and restaurants to do either.

8/10
Dine alfresco

Forget the restaurants with hastily arranged fold-up tables and chairs plonked outside and visit some of the establishments which specialise in outdoor dining. We’ve rounded up some of the best – one combines a micro-brewery with a pizzeria (good thinking), another will transport you to the Mediterranean and one is a slice of East End cool. More info on those and more below.

9/10
Sample some street food

The London street food scene is vibrant and ever-growing. Most sectors of world cuisine are represented by at least one of the kerbside stalls that appear all over the city. The pop-ups themselves are constantly on the move, but there are certain markets in which you can be sure to find something good – our guide to them is below.

10/10
But what if it's raining?

Ok. We admit it. We’ve been a little optimistic – most of the above are best experienced when it’s sunny, and the British summer isn’t exactly synonymous with sunshine. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still have fun when the heavens open. From cake shops to aquariums, there’s more than enough to do indoors while you wait for those blue skies to reappear.

Ceremony Festival

September 12

An explosion of dance music, celebrating to the past while also taking the next steps forward. Seven arenas in Finsbury Park will host mainly house artists – including a London festival exclusive in The Martinez Brothers – but other underground club culture favourites will also feature.

United Festival

September 13

On the day after Ceremony, Finsbury Park is taken over once again by United, another from the Found festival series. This time, it’s an homage to rave culture. Last year’s debut was a roaring success and this time they’re going even bigger with more than 150 acts rammed into 11 hours of music.

Prudential BluesFest

November 7-8

Three days of blues at the O2 Arena, both in the main space and in the smaller, more intimate Brooklyn Bowl. Tom Jones and Van Morrison will perform on the same night, whereas Dave Matthews Band kick things off.

London Jazz Festival

November 13-22

Contemporary jazz seems to be having something a resurgence, both here and abroad, and if you don’t believe it, just go to one of these shows. Kamasi Washington, whose latest album was called “the best jazz record I have heard since the 70s” by Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, is among the biggest draws, but there are countless fantastic acts on show across the festival's venues.